wheeler



` 6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(Np Model.)

C; WHEELER, J1?.

Harvester.

No. 240,064. -Pafemed, ^pri'| 12,1881.-

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' C; WHEELER, Jfrf;

` Y Harvester'. E No, 24 ,o 4.,V Patented April 12,1881."

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N. PETERS. PHTO-LTIHOGMFHER. WASHINGTON: D

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(No Model.)

0. WH'EELERyJr.

Harvester.

No; 240,064, Paren'tdrApril 1218jal.

lllllllllllllll un lIzzvezzor mizzesses UNITE-D STATES PATENT rEicE.

. cYEENUs WHEELER, JE., E AUBURN, NEW YORK.

HARVESTER.

sEciFIcATI'oN forming part of Letters Patent rioja-10,064, dated April 12, 1881.

' Application filed October 19,1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CERENUs WHEELER, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Auburn, county' of Cayuga, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harvesters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of said improvements, their construction, and inode of operation, referenceV being had to the accompanyin g drawings, making part of the speciticatiomin which- Figure l, Sheet 1, is a plan view with that portion of the pole in front of the Whiftletree omitted. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a side elevation of the same as seen from the right-hand or linger-bar side of the machine. Fig.` 3, Sheet 3, is a plan view, showing the gearing, (the cover being removed,) the left-hand drive-Wheel, the crank-frame, and gear-frame,thesleeves being broken away to show the shaft and the method of connecting the two frames, also-the shifterfork and its lever. Figret, Sheet 4, is a plan view of a part of the cutter and crank frame, the finger-bar and cutting apparatus, the shoe and intermediate rocking coupling-piece, and the connection of the several parts together for joint operation. Fig. 5, Sheet, is a vertical cross-section of the machine in front of the lifting and gaging device and in rear of the pitman or connecting-rod, showing the fingerbar and cuttingapparatus raised; and Fig. 6, Sheet 6, is a sectional View across the machine at the same point, showing the finger-bar and cutting apparatus down, with its outer end dropped to its lowest point, the drawings on Sheets 3 and 4 being made on a scale of three inches to the foot, those ou Sheets 5 and'on a scale of one and a halt' inch to the foot, and those on Sheets l and 2 on a scale of one inch to the foot. e

The same letters of reference, where they appear inthe several drawings, indicate like parts of the machine. e

My improvements relate to that classof machines known-to the tradeas double drivingwheeled, froh t-cut,laterallyprojectin g, hin gedbar machines ;I andthe improvements consist,

rst, in" a' gear-frame and tongue-socketin one piece, combined with a forwardlyprojecting crank aud' cutter frame hinged thereto on a line concentric with the main axle; second, in

a gear-frame and tongue socket in one piece,

a vibrating cutter and crank'frame hinged to paratus hinged thereto; third, in agear-frame and tongue-socket in one piece, crank and cut- `ter frame, and a laterally-proiecting cutting apparatus united thereto by an intermediate coupling-piece, having hinges or pivots atright angles to each other; fourth, 1n a gear-frame supporting and shielding the gearing, carrying a drivers seat in rear of the main axle, a rigid tongue, forwardly-projecting cutterframe, intermediate rocking coupling-piece, laterally-projecting cutting apparatus hinged thereto, and alever within reach of the driver in his seat for adjusting and holding the rocking piece in its adjusted position; lifth, agearframe, drivers seat, rigid tongue, forwardlyprojecting cutter frame, rocking couplingpiece, and laterally-projecting cutting apparatus, with a lifting-lever supported bythe pole, and a chain connecting it with the rocking piece; sixth, in two independent driving and supporting wheels, a gear-frame between said wheels, the driver-s seat, rigid tongue, forward projecting vibrating frame, and a draft-link connecting the whiftletrees with the vibrating frame; seventh, hinging the coupling-piece to vibratin g frame by an axis parallel to the main axle and hingin g the cutting apparatus to the rocking piece in front of the periphery of the right-hand drive-wheel by pivots, the axes of which are arranged below the rocking axis of the'coupling-piece; eighth,

a lift-lever and lookin g devices on the pole, a vibrating frame hinged to gear-trame, laterally-projecting cutting apparatus connected to vibrating frame by a shoe and rocking coupling-piece, a three-armed lever pivoted on rear axis of shoe and united by its upper arm to lever on the pole by a chain passing through a sheave fastened to the rockin g axis of coupling-piece.

In the drawings, B and B' represent the supporting and driving Wheels of the machine. They are located on the opposite ends of the main axle A. This axle supports the gearframe C by passing through sleeves 0L and a2, which project from iton either side and serve as bearings, in which the axle A is free to turnh This gear-frame has formed with it a dishshaped shell orbasin, which surrounds and shields the gearing on its under side and protects it from dirt and the stubble. A seeond shaft, J, is supported by the gear-'frame in rear of the main axle, and parallel to it, by suitable hearin gs, c, the shaft being fixed therein by a pin, d, the gears E and F being tted to turn freely thereon. The drivin g-wheels B B are provided' with pawls pivoted to their internal cases and acted upon by springs, and the main axle A has at each end and inside of the periphery of wheels B B ratchet-wheels rigidly affixed to it, so that the wheels B Bin their rotation forward, will be locked with the ratchet-wheels on shaft A and impart to it a rotation corresponding to that of the wheels B B', and when the wheels have a backward movementthe pawls become disconnected from their ratchet-wheels, and the backward movement of wheels B B does not revolve shaft A.

0n shaft A, within the dished portion of the gear-frame, is keyed or otherwise firmly fastened a gear-wheel, D; and on `the second shaft, J, is placed a pinion-wheel, E, provided on one end with a clutch-hub, e, its other end having a grooved bub,f, which receives the jaws g of shifter-fork M, which is operated by the pivoted cam-lever N, which has its pivot ath. On the second shaft, J, is also placed a gearwheel, F, having a corresponding clutch-hub, i, which serves to lock with pinion E when the pinion is moved on shaft J so as to bring' it into locking position. Wheels E and F turn freely on shaft J, and when locked together must move in unison as one wheel. The movement of pinion E to and from its locking position with the wheel F is effected by means of the cam-leverN and a spring placed under M, in a chamber provided for it in the gear-frame, acting against a lug on the under side of M to press it and the gear E into locking position with F when not restrained by the camlever N. The spring and chamber in the gearfraine are not shown in the drawings.

A pinion, Gr, and bevel-wheel H, constructed. in one piece, are placed on the shaft A and turn freely thereon, the pinion Gr meshing with "gear-wheel F, from which it derives motion,- -`and it, in turn, from the pinion E, with which it locks, and pinion E receives its motion from gear-wheel D', the wheel D receiving motion through the main shaft A from driving-wheels B B' through the ratchets and pawl's heretofore described.

Formed in one piece with gear-frame C is a ton gue-socket, P, to which thepole A2is bolted, and serves to steady and direct the machine and keep the gear-frame in a plane substantially parallel to the ground over which the machine is moving.

To further protect and shield the gearing acover, B2, is hinged tothe gear-framein front of the main axle by hinges j, so that it can be turned up for oilin g, and when down is fastened by locking-button 7c. On this cover,

supported by the gear-frame and located behind the main axle A, is the seat G2 for the driver. This seat has a spring, D2, the foot of which is secured to socket-piece l, the seat being secured to its upper end by a rose-piece, fm, and hand nut and bolt n. Formed with gear-cover B2 is a fiange or foot-piece, o, arranged convenient for the left foot of the driver when in his seat. A tool-box, O, is formed in one piece with the gear-frame C and tongue-socket P, and located behind the pole, the rear wall of the tongue-socket serving as the front wall for the tool-box. By locating the tool-box behind the pole and hinging a cover, E2, to it a convenient and safe support for the right foot of the driver is provided and the machine rendered more compact and strong.

In order to give to the cutting apparatus the necessary iiexibility when united with the machine to follow the surface ofthe ground closely without being iniiuenced by the position of the gear-frame and pole, a cutter-frame coinyposed of cross-bars 1t S and brace-bars T U is provided, having a sleeve-piece, Q, for unitin g' the brace-bars T U to the sleeve a of the gear-frame C, and on which it is free to vibrate independent f the movementsof the gearframe. These brace-pieces T U extend forward of the cross-bar S, and serve to support the pivot or axis on which the coupling-trame, hereinafter to be described, rocks.

In order to bring the crank-head F2. and connecting-rod or pitman G2 low down and in advance of the driving-wheels B B', and as nearly in the same horizontal plane with the cutting apparatus as practicable,acrank-frame, L, is provided, having ears H2 l2 for fastening it to the braces R S ot' cutter-frame, and an arm, J2, having a sleeve, K2, for uniting it to the sleeve c2 of the gear-frame C, and on which it is free to vibrate or turn independent ofthe movement of the gear-frame C. The crank -frame L is tubular in form, and is formed with bearings at cach end for the crank-shaft K, inserted therein and carried by it. To the rear end of the crank-shaft is fast- IOO IOS

ened the bevel-pinion I, which meshes with the bevel-wheel H on` the main shaft A. The front end of crank-shaft K hascrank-head F2 fastened to it, and carries a wrist-pin, to'which pitman G2 is connected by a box and swiveling head, its other end being connected to the cutter by spoon-jaws embracing a ball-head, so as to admit of a rocking as well as an oscillating movement of the finger-bar and cutting apparatus withoutdanger of binding or cramping the crank or its, intermediate parts connecting it with the cutters.

A coupling-piece,V, is provided, having ears p 1, which serve as rocking axis for piece 4V, which is united to the forward end of bracebars T U by bolt r nearly parallel to the main axle A. Theears p q are united by a web or iiange concave on its upper surface, so as to give room for bolt r, and at the same time protect and shield it and form a surface on its under side that will pass easily over grass and.Z obstructing objects. Ears s t are formed on the piece V at nearly right anglestovand below the horizontal plane of axis p q, so as to bring the rocking-axis of the piece V and the parts connected with it far enough above the surface of the ground to admit of its passing easily over loose grass and inequalities and permit the pitman G2 to work freely under it.

To the ears s t the shoeW is united by ears u 'v and pivots w so that the finger-bar X, connected with it and projecting laterally or sidewise from the framework of the machine and in advance of the driving and supporting wheels, will carry the cutters in a path outside of that in which the machine travels, and will be free to oscillate on the axis w w ot' the shoe W and conform to the inequalities of the ground over which it passes, the inner end of the cutting apparatus and the shoe Wto which it is connected rising and falling with the varying surface of the-ground over which it passes, the cutter and crank frame, with the intermediate coupling-piece V, to which it is connected, being free to rise and fall with the shoe Windependent of the driving-wheels, pole, or gearframe C, torwhich the cutter and crank frame is pivoted.

As the cutter and crank frame has its points oi' attachment to the gear-frame concentric to the main axle A, any degree of vibration of the crank or cutter frame will not change the relation of the bevel'pinion I to the bevel-wheel H.

The rear or pinion end of crank-frame L projects within gear-frame 'C far enough to bring the pinionrI within the shell or shield of the gear-frame, the frame at that point having a vertical slot of sufficient depth to permit that end of the crank-frame L to risc and fall within the necessary limits.

The cutting apparatus, consisting of the iinger-bar X, cutters Y, Vand ngers Z, is ot' the ordinary construction now in general use.

To the shoe W is attached a sole-piece or supplementary shoe, L2, which can be removed and replaced at pleasure. To the outer shoe, N2, is also attached an adjustable shoe,Z.

A shield, M2, is provided for `the crank-head F, and has a brace, y, connecting the frontend of the shield with crank-frame L, to aid in supporting the same against shocks it may receive from stones and obstructions.

`lnore easily done by the operator than with the axes placed farther forward, as, if placed forward, the weight of the forward end of the crank and cutter frame would be thrown upon the front end of the shoe W, and, the ground being the bearing-point, the frame would have to beraised to the same degree the forward end of the shoe rose in rocking it, `whereas `by ient proximity to the right hand of the driver in his seat.

A sector-rack, b b, is secured to an ear, c c,

on sleeve-piece Q overthe main axle A, anda locking-bolt, d d, controlled by a link, ee, and

thumb-lever ff, serves to lock and hold the lever O2 and rocking piece V in a fixed relative position, or to release and change the same at the pleasure of the driver without stopping his team. Y

A chain sector-wheel, P2, is pivoted on the pole L by a pivot-piece, R2. To wheel P2 a lever, Q2, is fastened, having a thurnblever, gg, and link h h. To the wheel P2 one end of a chain, it', is fastened. This chain passes undera sheave,jj, which is connected to bolt 1f of rocking piece V, and its other end is connected to the upperbranch of the gag-lever S2. This gag-lever is pivoted on the rear pivotbolt, zu, of the shoe W. This lever S2 has projecting at right angles from the branch first referred to a branch, k k, which has a proje- IOO ner edge ofthe shoe W when brought into ac-v tion, to raise the outer end of the `linger-bar. (See Sheet 5,]3ig. 5.) About midway between the point ofthe shoe and the upper end of lever S2 another branch, fn, n, projects `nearly at right angles nto. the upright part, and serves as a stop, by `striking against the web of rocking piece V, to limit the action of the lever S2 within the required limits desired 'for the proper elevation of the ou ter end of the inger-bar and cutters. A stop, T2, is cast with and projects downward from the under side of the polesocket P, and serves as a stop for the `cutterframe when it is raised by its front bar, S, striking against it, and thus limits the upward rise of the cutter-frame. In Fig. 5, Sheet 5, is illustrated these several parts with the [ingen- IIO bar and cutter raised to its full capacity. The

driver in his seat, by drawing the Lipper end of lever Q2 towardvhim, by its action through the chain '52', lever S2, and its connection', first elevates the cutter-frame until it strikes the stop T2, and. with it the inner end of the linger-bar and shoe, the outer end, especially if in the grass, morethan counterbalan cing the action ofthe gag-lever. By continuing the movement of lever Q2 the driver will bring the finger-bar and cutters to t-heposition shown in Fig. 5, the projection n n of lever S2 resting against the upper side of the web of rocking piece V, in which position it can be held by the locking mechanism of the lever Q2, conment of the outer end of the cu ttin g apparatus within practical working limits, the projection m m on branch k k of lever S2 is provided, and

serves, in connection with the web of the rocking piece V, to limit the downward descent of the finger-bar X below a point in which the cutters and their operating mechanism would fail to operate properly. This position of the finger-bar X, gag-lever S2, rocking piece V, and lifting-lever Q2 and its connecting devices is fully shown in Sheet 6, Fig. 6.

-The cutting apparatus being connected to the cutter-frame in advance of the drivingwheels, and the cutter-frame, in turn, being connected at its rear end to the axial center of the driving-wheels, about which it is free to vibrate, and as the cutter-frame and the crankframe must necessarily in its vertical movements be controlled by the cutting apparatus, which must follow the surface of the ground over which it is passing, it will be seen that the weight which the cutting apparatus sustains must necessarily be considerable, and require a considerable expenditure of power to overcome the friction on the ground. To counteract this the whiffletrees U2, to which 'the horses are attached, are pivoted to a sliding piece, q q, which is supported on the pole A2 by a fixed guide-piece, 1 1'. The slide q q has a Bange-piece, s s, projecting downward on the right side of the pole, and from this 4 projects a stud, on which the eye of link-rod t t is placed, the other end being connected to an eye, u u, located on the cutter-frame just back of the rear edge of front brace, S, of cutter-frame. The length of this link-rod t tand the location of the slide q q 0,11 the pole are such as will, when the machine is in operation, reduce the friction of the inner end ofthe cutting apparatus upon the ground to the lowest point at which it will follow its profile.

For the purpose of convenient transportation from place to place a hook, e fr, is pivoted to flange-piece at ct of lever O2, and has a coiled spring behind it, (see Fig. 1,) to hold it in locking position, anda link-rod, w w, connected by a thumb-lever, :l: w, to rear end of lever O2, for releasing the hook by the driver at pleasure.

lhe finger-bar, when elevated and held in the position shown in Fig. 5, can be turned on its hinge, so that its upper end will incline toward the pole of the machine, in which position the hook c e, Figs. l and 2, will lock onto the rear edge of the nger-bar X and hold it in that position. When thus elevated the driver in his seat can, by means of the thumblever m release the hook c o, and by means ofthe tracker V2.1ower the finger-bar to the position shown in Fig. 5, and then by means of the lever Q2 lower the same to the ground. In this position the machine, with the shifterhandle N thrown back and the team attached,

will be ready for operation. movement of the machine forward over the ground causes a rotation of the drivin g-wheels B B and a corresponding rotation ofthe shaft A, connected with them through ratchets and pawls, and a corresponding rotation in the same direction is given to gear-wheel D. This wheel, gearing with pinion E, gives it a rotation in the reverse direction, and it and gearwheel F, locked with it, both have the same rotation. F, gearing with the pinion-wheel G, gives it a rotation reversed from that of E and F, but in the same direction as that of D, but with increased speed. The bevel-wheel H be ing united to G, and both being free to turn on shaft A, do so with less friction than the same wheels mounted on a separate shaft, gaining by the same degree that the shaft A rotates with them in the same direction. The bevel-wheel H, gearing with the pinion I on Acrank-shaft K, imparts to it and crank-head F2 increased rotation, and through the connecting-rod or pitman G2 a reciprocating motion to the cutter Y. The finger-bar and cutting apparatus, being free to rise and fall, follow the profile of the ground both transverse andparallelto the path in which the team travels.

The point of hinging the finger-bar to the coupling-piece V being in line with the tread of right-hand wheel B, a narow track formed by the tracker serves as a path for both shoe W and Wheel B in the succeeding swath, and the shoe being in line with and close to wheel B, followsthe ground more perfectly than if differenti y located.

As the crank-frame is connected with the cutter-frame and rises and falls with it in the up and down motions it receives from the cutting apparatus, it will be seen that the crankhead F2 must at all times preserve very nearly the samehorizontal plane as the shoe W. Consequently the angle of variation between the cutters and the connecting-rod will be less than when the cutter-frame has a movement independent of the crank-frame, and less power will be required to operate the cutter than with a fixed crank-frame. Y

The axis of rotation of the coupling-piece being in rear of the line of the cutters, the driver can very easily, with the machine in motion, by means of lever O2, elevate or depress the point of the fingers Z and cutters Y at The progressive IOO pleasure, as the ground or condition of crop rest, a person of one hundred and sixty pounds weight, with the seat at its central point of adjustment, will balance the pole, neck-yoke, and

whiffietrees. For purposes of adjustment a series of holes (not showninthe drawings) is nade in` the top part of seat-spring D2, for adjusting the seat forward or back, as the Weight of the driver may require.

The drivers seat being located as described and supported by the gear-frame, the team being attached by a rigid pole to the same, it will be seen that his position is unintluenced by the vertical movements of the cutter-frame and cutting` apparatus, and forward end of the cutterand crank frame in their up and down movements are not iniiuenced injuriously by the gear-frame or the driver supported thereon.

The shifting-lever N, for throwing the cuttersout of gear, is convenient to the driver, and the gearing protected and shielded from dirt and grit, the whole machine compact, stron g, and well balanced, the drivers seat safe and convenient.

Having. thus fully described the construc- `tion and operation of the machine, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the gear-frame and tongue-socket in one piece, the frward projectin g independently-vibratin g crank and cutter fra-me hinged to said gear-frame coucen tric to the main axle, substantially as described.

2. The combination of Vthe gear-frame and tongue-socket in one piece, the forwardly-projectin g independently -vibrating cutter and crank frame hinged to said gear-frame concentric to the main axle, and carrying a laterally projecting cutting apparatus hinged thereto, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the gear-frame and tongue-socket in one piece, the forwardly projectin g independentl y-vibratin gcrank and cutter frame, with the laterally-projectin g cutting apparatus united thereto by an intermediate coupling-piece, having hinges at right angles to each other, substantially as described and shown.

4. The combination of the gear-frame which supports and shields the gearing, the drivers seat supported thereon in rear of' the main axle, the rigid tongue, the forwardly-projecting vibrating cutter-frame, the intermediate rocking coupling-piece, the laterally-projectie g cutting apparatus hinged to said couplingpiece, a lever connected with said rocking piece, and within reach of the driver in his seat for rocking it and the cutting apparatus and-holding them in their adjusted position, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

5. The combination of the gear-frame, the drivers seat supported `thereon in rear of the main axle, the rigid pole, the forwardly-projecting hinged cutter and crank frame, the rocking coupling piece, laterallyprojecting cutting apparatus hinged to said couplingpiece, a lifting-lever supported on the pole of the machine, and the chain connecting the lever with the rocking piece and cutting apparatus, substantially as described and shown.

6. The combination of tvo independent driving and supporting wheels on the same axle,

the supporting and shielding gear-frame between the Wheels, the seat for the driver, supported by the gear-frame and located in rear of the main axle, the rigid pole to guide the machine, the forwardly-projecting vibrating crank and cutter frame, thedraft-link connected at its rear end to the cutter-frame and at its forward end to the wbiflietrees by a sliding head supported on the pole by the fixed guidepiece, substantially as set forth and shown.

7. The rocking coupling-piece hinged to the forward end of the vibrating frame by an axis nearly parallel to the main axle, in combination with the cutting apparatus hinged to the rocking piece by pivots arranged below and at right angles to the axis of the coupling-piece and in front of the periphery of the drivingwheel B, substantially as described. ,j

8. The lifting-lever and locking devices supported on the pole, the vibrating frame hinged to the gear-frame, a laterally-projecting cutting apparatus connected to the frame by a shoe and rocking coupling-piece, the three-armed lever pivoted on the rear axis ofthe shoe and united by its upper arm or branch by a chain to the lifting-lever on the pole, the whole being arranged and combined for joint operation as shown and described, and for the purposes stated.

o. WHEELER, JR.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. BAKER, CHARLES VAN DUzEa. 

